Swadlincote Town Centre - South Derbyshire District Council

Preliminary Information:
Citizens’ Panel 2009
Swadlincote Town Centre

Survey Information
•499 people responded to this Citizen’s Panel (49.9%)
• Not all answered each question
• The responses were from across the District; as such, many
respondents did not have an intimate knowledge of
Swadlincote.
• The Comments were taken from one final question at the
end of the Swadlincote Town Centre section of the survey.
Luckily, they tend to be relevant to each of the areas which
were quantifiably assessed and as such are included as
appropriate.
• Response rates differed by ward across the District. These
are available upon request, and may help explain any
disparities with expectations among the responses.
• It is possible that people who have stated that they never
visited Swadlincote gave negative comments–this would
suggest a perception issue.

“Swadlincote is an Atractive
Historic Town” (1)
Statement "Swadlincote is an attractive historic town"
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Series1
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“Swadlincote is an Atractive
Historic Town” (2)
•“Swadlincote will never be Florence so there is
little point in trying to make it so. It is probably
the case that it’s buildings have been made less
attractive by their owners who, understandably
want to 'modernise' them.”
•“Swadlincote is a dying town. Miserable to visit.
No decent shops at all. Nothing to go to Swad for
at all. Only the post office is worth a visit. It has
gone from bad to worse. Please help before it's
too late. Very very dismal. Hate it.”
•“Swadlincote is a historic town but by no means
attractive. The history of Swadlincote is not
obvious to an outsider.”

“The Areas Between Buildings
are Poorly Maintained” (1)
Statement "The areas between buildings are poorly
maintained"
200
150
100
Series1
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Streets Look Dated and
are in Poor Condition” (1)
Statement "The streets look dated and are in poor
condition"
250
200
150
100
Series1
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Streets Look Dated and are
in Poor Condition” (2)
•“Do not use block paving! From west street to the entire length of
high street, it is all uneven an extremely dangerous for the elderly
and disabled.”
•“It is very difficult to push a wheelchair user through Swadlincote.
The paving is uneven, the wheels get stuck in the guttering, you
have to dodge so many obstructions. Please get the planners to
push a wheelchair user around Swadlincote for a time!”
•“Scruffy and shabby needs more pedestrian area and they need
updating. Unattractive to visitors -what you there to attract people
to the town?”
•“The block paving and gullies need ripping up and starting again -
the fair rides have ruined the paving in west street particularly.”
•“The block paving in the town centre is uneven and poorly
maintained. Often people stumble and sometimes trip-up. Even
though traffic is restricted in these areas, there is possibly enough
to cause damage to the block paving.”

“The Delph is an Important
Space with Lots of Potential” (1)
Statement "The Delph is an important space with lots of
potential"
300
250
200
150
Series1
100
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Delph is an Important
Space with Lots of Potential” (2)
•“Stop disabled drivers parking around parked area and make
town centre paved area completely pedestrianised. I am not
prejudiced but because access is given to disabled car
drivers, able bodies people do it too.”
•“The Delph, market street and west area, is being spoilt by
parked cars, and general vehicle passing through the area.
There are many instances daily where able-bodied people
drive and park here, when they could have parked
elsewhere.”
•“There is a total abuse at the pedestrianised area of
Swadlincote by drivers who are clearly bone idle, not
disabled yet unprepared to use the car parks surrounding
the Delph. They should receive hefty on the spot fines. The
choice of shops is limited sadly.”
•“There is no need for all the cars driving through the town
centre. Most of the disabled use the town centre but sit in
the vehicle whilst someone else does their shopping.”

“The Street Furniture (bolards
etc) Causes Obstructions” (1)
Statement "The street furniture (bollards etc) causes
obstructions"
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Series1
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Street Furniture (bolards
etc) Causes Obstructions” (2)
•“Please keep the same amount and spread of
seating, because as a person with health problems
this is ideal, and what many other towns and
cities don't provide. (Therefore i don't visit them!).
Remove drainage channels as these are frequently
the cause of problems.”
•“Outside seating is minimal, and provision could
improve community spirit. The town could do with
a local focal point - statue? (Not one of those
expensive things, but perhaps give the design to a
local art college and manufacture to local
businesses”

“There is Good Pedestrian
Access Around the Town” (1)
Statement "There is good pedestrian access around the
town"
300
250
200
150
Series1
100
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“There is Good Pedestrian
Access Around the Town” (2)
•“Take up the red brick road, get traffic down the high street using a
one way system, with lay byes for disabled and dropping off and Swad
will once again look like the busy place it once was.”
• The existing pedestrianisation scheme is only +/- 20 years old, and has
worn extremely well. Is a wholesale change really necessary
(££savings!!). Previous policies/ decisions - e.g a supermarket at each
end of west street have hardly helped.
• The most common complaint by 50+ residents is the state of the
pedestrian path and it's unevenness.
• The sloping pavements are bad for wheelchairs and the elderly.
• Swadlincote was attractive until supermarket failed in its promise of
escalators from high street to Morrisons. Now it's dying on its feet. To
replace on load of crap block paving with yet another is lunacy.
• When the town centre was first pedestrianised 25+ years ago, the
planning' choice and supervision of the contractor (paving) and the
worksmanship produced was abysmal and an insult to council tax
payers who funded it.

“The Town Centre is Wel Linked
to Car Parks” (1)
Statement "The town centre is well linked to car parks"
350
300
250
200
150
Series1
100
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Town Centre is Wel Linked
to Car Parks” (2)
• Lack of car parking capacity at civic way health centre. West street
too narrow - widening or restricted parking!
• Free car parking - good (makes Swadlincote different)
• Free car parking is a plus for the town.
• I think that whilst parking is still free in Swadlincote, it makes it
easier for people to pop into Swadlincote. I have heard that this is
going to change to "charging for parking". I think that this will make
a huge loss to businesses and needs to be re-
• Very convenient free parking - don't want that to change! I think
that Swad is nice but could be improved by a wider variety of shops.
• Swadlincote has the best parking facilities of all the towns around
the area (i.e. Burton - Derby - Ashby Tamworth) and certainly the
most reasonable. So please, keep up the good work and thank you.

“The Approaches to the Town
Centre are Uninviting” (1)
Statement "The approaches to the town centre are
uninviting"
250
200
150
100
Series1
50
0
Agree
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
Disagree
Don't Know/
No Opinion

“The Approaches to the Town
Centre are Uninviting” (2)
•“Only found what a lovely centre Swadlincote was
by chance - what about advertising in and around
green bank leisure centre. This attracts visitors
from out of area.”
•“Swadlincote is the most friendly town. Plenty of
nice shops; Including eating places "but" there
isn't enough parking spaces.”

Other Comments: Swadlincote
Centric Criticisms
•“Swadlincote maybe the main town in the district, but how many
residents in south Derbyshire choose to shop in Swad. The people I
know never go to Swadlincote, but to Derby and Burton as they are
nearer, have more shops/ facilities. Swadlincote is too far.”
•“This seems to be a view that expenditure in Swadlincote is higher
than would normally be expected. Those living in the sticks would
appreciate more expenditure in their area.”
•“Too much money is ploughed into Swad - not enough into
surrounding villages.”
•“Why is it so important? Money, resources all go to Swadlincote,
Newhall, Midway. South Derbyshire extends further than
Swadlincote. Please don't forget about Hilton, Hatton, Etwall.”
•“Why is there such an emphasis on Swadlincote, which is not a
place many people in and around the area consider a 'must visit'
place, either for regular shopping or visitors to the area? There are
other far more attractive areas in S. Derbys, and these suffer”.

Other Comments: Concerns about
Crime in Swadlincote Town Centre
•“CCTV is needed, the problems with children and teenagers running
around streaking in shops seems to be getting worse, the police do
not seem to be doing anything about the problem racism at Gresley
is also needing to be dealt with.”
•“I only use Swadlincote for the dentist practice. I find the town
depressing and the shops cheap and nasty looking. I also do not
feel safe walking round with my daughter.”
•“No security after dark. Where do the police go to?”
•“We need more police patrols to combat the smashed windows in
shops etc or allow shopkeepers to install grills across their
windows.”
•“Would be good with flowers/ greenery/ if you would crack down
on litter and violence, and also brighten up and maintain the
market hall. Need to raise esteem of shops and shoppers not spend
money on pavements or signage which is not top priority.”
•“The town centre is continually vandalised, perhaps the police
could actually do something.”

Other Comments: Never Visit
Swadlincote
•“The majority of people who live live in the area covered by south
Derbyshire district council never visit Swad town centre! Why
would they!”
•“We only use Morrisons supermarket at Swadlincote. Derby is
better served by us.”
•“I never go to Swadlincote - Derby is much better!”
•“I never go to Swadlincote town centre.”
•“I never visit Swadlincote - I go to Derby or Burton - access to
Swadlincote difficult - no bus and grotty roads.”
•“I never visit Swadlincote so cannot comment”
•“Have only ever driven through Swadlincote once, about 10 years
ago. So have no idea what it looks like.”
•“Having lived in Derbyshire for 33 years. I have only been in
Swadlincote once.”
•“I am sorry but I do not visit Swadlincote often enough to
comment”

Other Comments: Positive Comments
about Swadlincote Town Centre
•“Swad is improving, but remains 'work in
progress'. My impression is that it never feels as
clean as it should be. Is there an overall town
centre plan in place to guide improvement?”
•“Has been made more attractive in recent years.
Sitting areas are welcome. However, there is a
scruffiness about the place e.g litter, food thrown
down, pigeons and a general untidiness.”
•“The proposed developments in the coppice side
area will attract visitors, away from the high
street complex. What we don’t want is a situation
like that in Burton (i.e the Bargates Centre).”
•“Appoint a town centre manager.”

Other Comments: Significant
General Improvements Needed
• “I feel that given time, goodwill and adequate funding, Swadlincote can
become an attractive town for residents and visitors. Voluntary groups may
wish to 'adopt' an area. Keeping it free of litter and keeping open areas dug
(where appropriate) and clean.”
• “In the 50's, 60's and to some degree the 70's Swadlincote was a vibrant and
busy town centre. Sadly once it was pedestrianised this altered and it has
never been the same again. Small useful businesses disappeared, and
supermarkets, betting shops, card shops arrived!”
• Swadlincote could be an attractive historic town, if it were updated
significantly. We need to considerably change the type of shops, add more,
improve both the appearance and introduce more facilities.”
• Swadlincote has an expanding population. Lots of new estates. More facilities
are needed in the area. Improved leisure. More dentists, and better health
facilities. Possibly more nurseries for under 5's.”
• There are parts of the town centre that need improving. I.e the Delph, the old
pipeworks and where Kwiksave was.
• Area needs to be updated with modern facilities and furnishings as per other
town, i.e Nuneaton, Sutton coldfield, Tamworth. Council needs to look
around.”

Other Comments: Transport
• Swadlincote is not approachable by public transport from this
area, so have little or no interest. Do not agree with the
diverting of funds from rural projects to Swadlincote.
• We have never been to Swadlinote! There is no public
transport there from the north eastern area of the district and
nothing to encourage us to undertake a 4-bus return journey
via derby. The only time we needed to go there was to report a
death.
• I feel fairly safe (traffic wise) whilst walking up the high
street, but it is a different matter when approaching the Delph.
I do not like parked cars on the bend to the post office, which
can get very busy. Only last week a car started to reverse as i
walked by.
• I would like to see the high street completely clear of traffic by
10am. At present, there are still cars/vans etc driving through
when young parents, and children are walking as late as 11am.